IRON MOUNTAIN -- The Centers for Disease Control is warning Americans about a dangerous habit that may sneak up on many of us: drowsy driving. Sleep disorders, night shifts, and inadequate sleep are contributing factors in a habit the CDC is calling dangerous.
The article claims that shifts workers, those with sleep disorders, and commercial drivers are the most susceptible to this hazardous tendency.
"I mean, you're driving 11 hours a day," explains truck driver Rob Wright. "Watching white lines for five or six hours can make you kinda tired."
Wright, with Timber Products, says that it's important to take a break before hitting that sleepy state.
"A lot of people will just pull over and take a nap for an hour, or go out and take a walk, stop and get something to eat, just to get away from driving for a little while," Wright says. "You just gotta stop, get out of the truck for a while and get away from it."
The Center's for Disease Control says approximately 6,000 fatal accidents each year have been linked to drowsy driving. Individuals who only get six hours or less of sleep are more prone to falling asleep at the wheel.
"You shouldn't think that coffee's gonna get you through," insists Dr. John Sand, of the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center. "Or the radio will get you through, or singing a song or having someone talk to you…you should take a break."
The doctor says the best solution is sleeping for a minimum of eight hours every night.
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